The two co-host countries for the FIFA Women’s World Cup which started on Thursday – Australia and New Zealand – recoded wins in their opening games.
Steph Catley’s second-half penalty gave Australia a 1-0 victory over debutants the Republic of Ireland in Sydney.
Catley, standing in as captain after Australia’s star forward Sam Kerr suffered a calf injury on the eve of the game, converted the winner in the 52nd minute.
The Republic of Ireland frustrated the Matildas in the first half but their good work was undone when Marissa Sheva pushed Hayley Raso and Brazilian referee Edina Alves point to the spot.
Kerr, who is also set to miss Australia’s second game with Nigeria, celebrated on the bench with her team-mates but was restrained as she nursed the injury which kept her out of her team’s opener.
Megan Connolly, Katie McCabe and Louise Quinn all came close to what would have been a famous equaliser but the hosts held on to start their World Cup campaign with a win.
Also, New Zealand opened the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in stunning style against Norway as they won on the global stage for the first time.
On a memorable night in Auckland, the Football Ferns produced a huge upset after Hannah Wilkinson swept home Jacqui Hand’s cross in front of an ecstatic crowd of 42,137 at Eden Park – a record for a football match in New Zealand.
Even Ria Percival’s 89th-minute missed penalty, after a handball by Tuva Hansen, failed to dampen the celebrations.
Fans turned up in their tens of thousands to cheer their side who had failed to win any of their previous 15 World Cup games.
They were rewarded when Wilkinson broke the deadlock in the 48th minute to spark joyous scenes in the stands.
Norway, the 1995 world champions, should have equalised soon after Wilkinson’s goal but Arsenal’s Frida Maanum poked a glorious chance wide.
New Zealand went toe to toe with their opponents and it required a diving save by Aurora Mikalsen to prevent Ali Riley from doubling the lead.
There was a minute’s silence before kick-off for the victims of a deadly shooting in Auckland earlier on Thursday.
